2014 Challenge

Short introduction......

Was here, must have been 4 or 5 years ago...managed to go 2-3 months then slipped...came back...slipped....came back....slipped and then never came back...

Gambling has taken over my life, I spend everything on it, im struggling with rent now, already deferred once to landlord due to overgambling. It's got to crazy levels.

The weirdest thing is, im becoming more successful in a work capacity despite the madness in my head caused by this disease. If I could stop this idiocy I would be financially quite well off, so doing this is really pointless!!!

The main hook is the fixed terminals - 100/1 roulette is killing me.

I went from 200 down to 0, to taking 50 out of the bank, up to 400 and then lost it all today.....all on a lovely sunny day where I could have done so much more.

I need to stop. I've had it with this. I've got 400 in a tin to last till September 19th (Paid on the 19th of each month but got to pay 2 months rent and 3 months electric this month and then the rest of bills)....

I just want my life back. I'm 33 now, overweight, lacking motivation for anything else, single......it's depressing! If I don't stop now, I dread to think where I will be in 5-10 years time.

I'm going to check in now just incase I forget to do it during the week. These weeks seem to be going very quick but I'm getting near to the timeframe of my last relapse (around the 150 days mark) so I'm keep my guard up this time

Il be setting my fantasy football team up over next few weeks so will definitely be joining the league

Will pop in over the week when I get a spare minute to see how everyone is doing and be back Sunday to celebrate 150 days gamble free (thanks in no part to this 2014 challenge)

Checking in for day 49.

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the sunshine! 😉

same as ringerbell i'm checking in on day 144

times gone so fast but like ringerbell i've relapsed many times before

I never forget this addiction and what it can do

Well done everyone keep marching

Tri

Hi all

Checking in..very busy with work

Keep strong have a good week

Glads dad

morning all. checking in on day 70!!! wow that 10 weeks has gone fast!!!

I've been really busy lately picking up extra shifts at work, kids off school with the summer holidays.

feeling positive.

best wishes for the future everyone, we can do it!!!

Hi folks!!

Almost half way through the week and we're about a third of check ins. Still no new members reposting, but great to see Cautious Paul's introduction! Paul - there's a message for you on Page 1 of the Challenge thread if you want to join us.

Congrats to all those who have hit milestones - LAF, Pinky, mjc1974 and help2604 all having hit significant numbers in the last 2 days!! Brilliant going folks and proud to be walking this road with you all!!

A quick update on a soldier who has been having a really hard time recently, personally and with work. ToBeOrNot contacted me a couple of days ago to let me know that she's still clean, wants very much to be a part of this group but that with everything she has going on needs to prioritize herself and family. I'm super confident when things settle down she'll be back marching with us, hopefully with a really positive outcome to her current situation and a silver lining to the clouds!! We're inking about Laura and come back when you are ready to.

The 2014/15 Premiership Challenge which is our new Fantasy Football league for Challenge members has launched on Barclays FF website. Already we have 6 "managers" signed up to participate. All the joining details are on page 390 - give it a bash!! Was thinking about it driving home tonight......there will be a bitter sweet feeling for me at the end of this year - recovery will still be going strong, but the end of the 2014 will herald the potential for me to lose some amazing relationships I've found here - at least I know there'll be at least another 5 of you that I'll have some for, of contact with that will be provide a longer term recovery network.

Suppose I'd better get to sleep - Mr B is checking in!!

Night everyone,

Mr B

Hi there, Sparky here. I would like to be part of this challenge. I have been gambling since I turned 18 just betting on football coupons at first then the roulette machines came into play. They have been the worst thing that ever happened to me, blowing my wages most weeks sometimes winning but just giving it back. I have lied to my parents and loved ones and it has to stop. I am 33 have a beautiful daughter and girlfriend and a decent job. At the weekend I nearly blew all my wages, i left myself short for going away for the night on Saturday but went back to the bookies with 20 pound before I went and won 400 pound came home in the Sunday with 340 pound and went straight to the bookies and lost the lot. If I don't control this I am going to end up losing everything that I care most about. I could go on and on with many nightmare scenarios I have had through gambling.

Hello everybody, just checking in. Still going strong don't count the days anymore it just reminds me what a fool I've been. Good Luck for the rest of the week, Daz.

Gamble free and enjoying the beautiful day today

One thing i did want to mention is the football fantasy league. I know some may consider me a kill joy but i'm a compulsive gambler and gambling nearly ended my life so I won't be entering it. Yes it free entry but you can win prizes on it and knowing the person i am I would become fixated over it.

I have to draw a line in the sand and for me this is gambling but i respect others will laugh and say its just a bit of fun.

Tri

Completely respect that Tri - all of this is about making the right choices for our own recovery. After next Saturday there's no need for it to be mentioned on this thread, but I want to make people aware who possibly already play - hope you're ok with that.

Hope everyone is doing well - mental few days at work for me but still going strong!!

I'm still not seeing any new members reposting - is the ask for commitment scaring people away I wonder? Or is it that they are not ready to make that commitment?

Have a great Thursday all!!

Mr B

Of course i'm ok with that Mr B

Members of my family play competitions every day. I've even thought about entering some of them but i know were i'd end up so I abstain.

On members reposting what took me so long to stop was I still wanted to be in action. When I lost I had a momentary pause for thought and conmtacted places like gamcare, samaritans and ga.

Its not easy accepting i have a problem with gambling.

Everything inside of me still wants to beleive i'm over egging it and that i could get away with a few cheeky bets but i can only hide from reality for so long

Why i think its great we focus on the people who are here and help each other to stop gambling on a weekly basis. As for the level of commitment is one email a week too much to let other know how they are doing?

When i was gambling i'd say yes, now i'm not no its not.

Just a few thoughts

Tri

Hi ..I'm William 48 and life has hit a new low...need help but don't see easy way out of this horrible addiction bar taking my own life...so lets hope that help is available...

Hi everyone, Wolf57 checking in during this glorious week of UK weather! Hot / Wet / Hot, doesn't matter where we are in the UK, its so different everyday and why i love this country over the many others I have visited.

Anyways, still gamble free by choice, abstaining one day at a time. I stopped gambling on the morning of Fri June 6th which I have marked as Day Zero, and I make that 62 GF days today, so 63 GF days tomorrow, and therefore 64 GF days on Sat.

The key figure there for me is 63 days - that is nine whole weeks and the fact that I have gotten through two pay days without giving away any money to on-line casinos / slots / bingo or any other taker of my monies!

It has been tough on some days, a struggle on others, BUT still marching toward the light of 2015 and just wanted to say the above to let others know it can be achieved but only with will power and the support of partners / friends etc. It would be far too hard in isolation and so for anyone 'going it alone' would benefit greatly from joining Mr [& ma] B on this journey ~ strength in unison!!

Thanks for the support and thanks also for all the stats and interesting posts. Be strong and be safe, kind regards, Cliff

Posted a couple of times recently that i'd had a rough few weeks finally over that and completely on track since monday! got back the right attitude and the desire to stop gambling to make a commitment to this again.

MR B can you check us in next week please i'm off to budapest on sunday for sziget festival. 🙂